Hundreds will say goodbye Saturday to one of Sudbury?s most dedicated volunteers.
Brian Valin, 53, died suddenly Tuesday, shortly after visiting St. Joseph?s Health Centre, where he complained of not feeling well.
Valin belonged to numerous organizations and spent thousands of hours of his free time giving back to the community he loved.
He was a past-president of the Rotary Club Sunrisers (1995-96).
As one of the founding members of the Northern Cancer Research Foundation, Valin became good friends with research foundation founder Gerry Lougheed Jr., who will lead Valin?s funeral ceremony.
?Brian was always very quick to help others,? said Lougheed. ?It?s interesting that the Rotary Club?s international motto is to put service above self, and I think it would be fair to say he transformed that rhetoric into reality on a daily basis.?
Among his many accomplishments, Lougheed said Valin was probably most proud of being an
outspoken advocate and supporter of palliative care in this community.
?He worked hard lobbying government and the private sector to ensure the funding envelope was always there to maintain palliative care services in Sudbury,? said Lougheed.
?He was passionate about helping others and had a special place in his heart for palliative care.?
On a more personal note, Lougheed said Valin loved sharing a joke and having a good time.
?He almost always had a wonderful smile and did possess a great sense of humour that always engaged himself to others,? he said. ?He was also the kind of person who took great pride in the accomplishment of others.?
Valin didn?t just volunteer his time for numerous organizations, but ?got actively involved? in promoting those causes and fundraising for them, said Lougheed.
Valin?s most regular and endearing comment to all his friends and family was ?has anyone told you they loved you today? and if they hadn?t been told those words, he would offer them freely and
unconditionally, said Lougheed.
Debbi Nicholson, president and CEO of the local chamber of commerce, agreed Valin was one of the most committed volunteers this city has seen in a long, long time.
?He was an outstanding Sudburian,? she said. ?He gave his time and energy to a large number of different organizations?he was very proud to be a member of this community. He did his best to leave a real mark on this community.
?The only thing that was more important to him was the pride he had in his family and children.?
Valin?s death came as ?an absolute shock.?
Nicholson is hopeful there will be as many funny stories and jokes, as there will be tears and grief at the funeral.
?Obviously grief is a very personal thing and people display grief in any number of different ways, but I hope we celebrate Brian?s life and all the great things he accomplished in his life,? she said. ?He helped a lot of people and changed a lot of peoples? lives for the better.?
Good friend Alain Labelle said he?s going to miss Valin and so will this community.
?There?s no doubt about that,? he said. ?When I think of Brian all I can think of is that he was an extremely cheerful guy.
?You could tell that by calling him and listening to his voice mail message. He?s the only guy I knew who took the time to change his voice mail every single day and every day he was cheerful and in a good mood.?
Valin?s dedication to community service was offered only because he enjoyed working with and helping other people, said Labelle.
?He just never missed an opportunity to give of himself,? he said.
Valin was a dedicated Nickel Lodge volunteer and member of the Masonic Lodge. Valin was also past board member of the chamber of commerce and past-chair of the Sudbury Regional Palliative Care Association.
He was also the founding member of the Northern Cancer Research Foundation.
In 1997, Valin received the Rotary Club?s highest honour in being name a recipient of the Paul Harris Fellowship, in recognition of his many years of volunteer service to the community.
Valin worked in health care administration most of his adult life, serving as CEO at Network North before accepting the position of chief administration officer at the Northeastern Ontario Cancer Research Centre. Recently he had started a second career with Co-operators? Insurance.
Valin also enjoyed curling and was a member of the Idylwylde Curling Club. He loved entertaining family and friends at the family cottage.
Valin is survived by his partner Sandra Campbell, his daughter, Shannon, and son Brian Jr., and brother Kenneth.
A celebration of Valin?s life will be held at the R.J. Barnard Chapel Saturday at 11:30 am. Donations to the Rotary Foundation, Northern Cancer Research Foundation or charity of choice would be appreciated by the family.
?Keith Lacey, [email protected]
